The Essential Report Archive Read the latest report

  • Sep, 2021

    Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on people’s health within the past year

    Q. Thinking about your health in the past year, which of the following applies to you as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic?

      Yes, applies to me No, does not apply to me
    I’ve visited my GP less regularly 44% 56%
    My overall mental wellbeing has declined 40% 60%
    I’ve avoided seeking medical attention for a health issue I would normally get looked at 32% 68%
    I’ve had medical check-ups/tests delayed or cancelled 32% 68%
    My overall physical health has declined 31% 69%
    I’ve had elective procedures delayed or cancelled 22% 78%
    • The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions have had a knock-on effect on many people’s general health, with 44% visiting their GP less regularly and 32% avoiding seeking medical attention. 32% have also had check-ups or tests delayed or cancelled, and 22% have had electives procedures delayed or cancelled.
    • 40% acknowledge a decline in their mental wellbeing and 31% in their physical health.
    TOTAL:  Yes, applies to me Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    I’ve visited my GP less regularly 44% 41% 46% 52% 48% 33% 45% 44% 55% 41%
    My overall mental wellbeing has declined 40% 38% 41% 53% 47% 22% 41% 36% 56% 40%
    I’ve avoided seeking medical attention for a health issue I would normally get looked at 32% 31% 33% 42% 38% 18% 34% 32% 46% 25%
    I’ve had medical check-ups/tests delayed or cancelled 32% 33% 32% 42% 35% 20% 28% 34% 50% 36%
    My overall physical health has declined 31% 32% 29% 37% 36% 20% 31% 29% 42% 32%
    I’ve had elective procedures delayed or cancelled 22% 25% 20% 34% 23% 11% 18% 25% 29% 21%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 374 385 367 389 103 145

     

    TOTAL:  Yes, applies to me State
    NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    I’ve visited my GP less regularly 52% 51% 37% 34% 24%
    My overall mental wellbeing has declined 43% 45% 35% 39% 30%
    I’ve avoided seeking medical attention for a health issue I would normally get looked at 35% 35% 30% 27% 24%
    I’ve had medical check-ups/tests delayed or cancelled 40% 32% 29% 23% 21%
    My overall physical health has declined 35% 32% 33% 22% 19%
    I’ve had elective procedures delayed or cancelled 25% 24% 21% 14% 19%
    Base (n) 352 274 217 89 111
    • Younger people are more likely than older people to have experienced the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on their health. Those aged 18-34 are more likely than those over 55 to have had delays or cancellations to medical appointments (42% to 20% for check-ups/tests, 34% to 11% for elective procedures).
    • Younger people are most likely to have noticed a decline in both their mental wellbeing and physical health (53% and 37% respectively).
    • People living in NSW and Victorians are more likely than those in other states to say their mental wellbeing has declined (43% and 45%).
  • Sep, 2021

    Confidence in meaningful outcomes from Women’s Safety Summit

    Q. The National Summit on Women’s Safety was held on September 6-7.

    The main objective of the event was to guide the development of the next National Plan to end violence against women and children. Experts, advocates, service providers, and people with lived experience were brought together to explore issues faced by women and children experiencing violence in Australia.

    How confident are you that the National Summit on Women’s Safety will result in meaningful changes to address violence against women and children in Australia?

    Q Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Very confident 14% 18% 9% 21% 17% 4% 12% 16% 17% 13%
    Fairly confident 24% 23% 26% 29% 24% 21% 24% 29% 24% 19%
    Not that confident 32% 31% 33% 24% 29% 41% 35% 31% 29% 28%
    Not confident at all 16% 16% 16% 10% 12% 25% 17% 14% 18% 22%
    Unsure 14% 12% 16% 16% 18% 9% 13% 10% 13% 18%
    TOTAL: Confident 38% 41% 35% 50% 41% 24% 36% 45% 40% 32%
    TOTAL: Not confident 48% 47% 49% 34% 41% 67% 51% 45% 47% 50%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 374 385 367 389 103 145
    • Fewer people are confident that the recent National Summit on Women’s Safety will result in meaningful changes for women and children in Australia. 38% are very or fairly confident changes will happen, while 48% have less confidence.
    • Just 9% of women say they are very confident that the summit will result in meaningful changes, compared to 18% of men.
  • Aug, 2021

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    Performance of Scott Morrison

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Scott Morrison is doing as Prime Minister?

    Sep’21 Aug’21 Jul’21 Jun’21 May’21 Apr’21 End Mar’21 Mid Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20 Oct’20
    TOTAL: Approve 50% 50% 51% 57% 58% 54% 57% 62% 65% 61% 62% 66% 63%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 41% 40% 40% 36% 32% 37% 35% 29% 28% 30% 28% 25% 27%
    Don’t know 9% 10% 9% 8% 10% 9% 8% 8% 7% 9% 11% 9% 10%
    Base (n) 1,100 1,098 1,099 1,104 1,092 1,368 1,100 1,124 1,109 1,084 1,071 1,010 1,082

     

    TOTAL: Approve Sep’21 Aug’21 Jul’21 Jun’21 May’21 Apr’21
    NSW 48% 50% 53% 59% 64% 55%
    VIC 47% 45% 49% 52% 51% 51%
    QLD 56% 54% 49% 60% 60% 57%
    SA 47% 53% 50% 56% 52% 50%
    WA 58% 53% 50% 50% 63% 56%
    • The Prime Minister’s approval rating is now at 50% – this is unchanged from last month. Disapproval remains similar to last month at 41% – the highest disapproval rating in the last 12 months.
    • The PM’s approval rating continues to decrease in NSW (48%, from 64% in May).
    • The PM’s approval rating in WA has increased to 58% from 53% last month, but still has not recovered to the level in May (63%).
  • Aug, 2021

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    Performance of Anthony Albanese

    Q. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Anthony Albanese is doing as Opposition Leader?

    Sep’21 Aug’21 Jul’21 Jun’21 May’21 Apr’21 Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20 Oct’20
    TOTAL: Approve 37% 34% 41% 39% 39% 39% 41% 40% 42% 43% 40% 44%
    TOTAL: Disapprove 36% 38% 35% 36% 35% 34% 32% 33% 33% 29% 33% 29%
    Don’t know 27% 28% 24% 24% 25% 27% 27% 27% 25% 28% 27% 27%
    Base (n) 1,100 1,098 1,099 1,104 1,092 1,368 1,124 1,109 1,084 1,071 1,010 1,082
    • The Opposition Leader’s approval rating is now at 37% (34% last month).
    • The proportion of people disapproving of Albanese is now at 36% (38% last month). 27% say they are unsure of his performance.
  • Aug, 2021

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    Preferred Prime Minister

    Q. Who do you think would make the better Prime Minister out of Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese?

    Sep’21 Aug’21 Jul’21 Jun’21 May’21 Apr’21 Mar’21 Feb’21 Jan’21 Dec’20 Nov’20 Oct’20
    Scott Morrison 47% 45% 46% 48% 50% 47% 52% 52% 51% 50% 53% 50%
    Anthony Albanese 26% 26% 28% 28% 24% 28% 26% 24% 25% 24% 24% 25%
    Don’t know 27% 29% 26% 24% 26% 25% 22% 24% 25% 26% 24% 25%
    Base (n) 1,100 1,098 1,099 1,104 1,092 1,368 1,124 1,109 1,084 1,071 1,010 1,082
    • 47% of Australians continue to think that Scott Morrison would make a better PM than Anthony Albanese (45% last month).
    • Just over a quarter (26%) think the opposition leader would make the better Prime Minister (same last month). 27% of participants don’t know who would make the better PM.
  • Aug, 2021

    Views towards re-electing the federal Coalition government

    Q. Which is closer to your own view about the federal Coalition government?

      Total Gender Age Group Federal Voting Intention
    Male Female 18-34 35-54 55+ Labor TOTAL: Coalition Greens TOTAL: Other
    Deserves to be re-elected 36% 43% 29% 26% 35% 45% 14% 71% 18% 25%
    Time to give someone else a go 41% 40% 42% 50% 36% 38% 65% 14% 69% 46%
    Unsure 23% 17% 29% 24% 29% 17% 21% 16% 13% 29%
    Base (n) 1,100 539 561 341 374 385 388 405 90 119

     

      State
    NSW VIC QLD SA WA
    Deserves to be re-elected 34% 37% 35% 40% 37%
    Time to give someone else a go 45% 37% 42% 39% 37%
    Unsure 21% 26% 23% 21% 25%
    Base (n) 349 276 219 89 111
    • When thinking about whether the current government should be re-elected, 41% think it’s time to give someone else a go, compared to 36% who think the federal Coalition government deserves to be re-elected. 23% are unsure.
    • Those most likely to think the current government deserves to be re-elected include men (43%), those over 55 (45%), and Coalition voters (71%).
    • People aged 18-34 (50%), Labor voters (65%), and Greens voters (69%) are the most likely to think it’s time to give someone else a go.
    • NSW residents are more likely to think it’s time to give someone else a go than Victorians (45% to 37% respectively).
  • Aug, 2021

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    Federal government response to Covid-19

    Q. Overall, how would you rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

      30/08 16/08 02/08 19/07 05/07 07/06 24/05 12/04 15/03 01/03 15/02 01/02 30/11
    Very poor 16% 13% 16% 13% 12% 10% 6% 7% 5% 6% 5% 4% 6%
    Quite poor 20% 22% 19% 19% 17% 14% 12% 10% 7% 8% 7% 11% 8%
    Neither good nor poor 24% 24% 28% 23% 26% 22% 25% 21% 18% 24% 19% 19% 19%
    Quite good 29% 32% 28% 32% 33% 38% 40% 40% 39% 39% 42% 42% 41%
    Very good 10% 9% 10% 14% 11% 15% 18% 22% 31% 23% 27% 25% 26%
    TOTAL: Poor 36% 35% 35% 31% 30% 24% 18% 17% 12% 14% 12% 14% 13%
    TOTAL: Good 39% 41% 38% 46% 44% 53% 58% 62% 70% 62% 69% 67% 67%
    Base (n) 1,100 1,100 1,098 1,100 1,099 1,104 1,100 1,368 1,124 1,074 1,109 1,092 1,034

     

    TOTAL: Good 30/08 16/08 02/08 19/07 05/07 07/06 24/05 12/04 15/03 01/03
    NSW 34% 34% 39% 49% 44% 62% 56% 66% 69% 64%
    VIC 35% 37% 33% 39% 40% 42% 57% 55% 65% 51%
    QLD 45% 44% 40% 46% 48% 54% 56% 63% 69% 66%
    SA 48% 45% 48% 51% 48% 58% 66% 62% 78% 68%
    WA 51% 53% 37% 51% 42% 49% 56% 65% 75% 66%
    • 39% of people rate the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak as quite good or very good (41% earlier in the month), with 36% rating it as quite poor or very poor.
    • Positive rating of the federal government’s handling of Covid-19 is unchanged from earlier this month among those in NSW (34%, still the lowest recorded rating in NSW).
  • Aug, 2021

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    State government response to Covid-19

    Q. How would you rate your state government’s response to the Covid-19 outbreak?

    TOTAL: Good 30/08 16/08 02/08 19/07 05/07 07/06 24/05 12/04 15/03 01/03 15/02 01/02 30/11
    NSW 40% 42% 47% 54% 57% 69% 68% 73% 75% 72% 72% 71% 76%
    VIC 44% 56% 54% 49% 50% 48% 63% 58% 62% 49% 59% 61% 60%
    QLD 67% 66% 60% 62% 61% 65% 68% 72% 75% 73% 76% 78% 72%
    SA 76% 68% 73% 68% 67% 67% 71% 75% 85% 78% 79% 80% 70%
    WA 78% 87% 82% 77% 86% 75% 77% 84% 91% 85% 88% 80% 83%
    • Amid the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown in NSW, positive rating of the state government’s response to Covid-19 continues to drop, now at 40% from 47% earlier this month.
    • Positive rating of the state government in Victoria has dropped by 12 percentage points to 44%, from 56% mid-August.
    • Although it remains the highest of all states, positive rating of the WA government’s handling of Covid-19 has decreased 9 percentage points to 78% from 87% mid-August.
    • Positive rating of the SA government has increased by 8% in the past two weeks to 76%, the best rating since March.
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